Police urge pact by mayor, City Hall

Union says it will pay for mediation on tax initiative

STOCKTON - Stockton police officers made a public offer Friday to spend what could amount to $5,000 a day to bring Mayor Anthony Silva and City Hall together on a citywide tax initiative designed to bolster the police force.

Comment

By Keith Reid

recordnet.com

By Keith Reid

Posted Apr. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Keith Reid

Posted Apr. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Stockton police officers made a public offer Friday to spend what could amount to $5,000 a day to bring Mayor Anthony Silva and City Hall together on a citywide tax initiative designed to bolster the police force.

Stockton Police Officers Association President Kathryn Nance announced the union's offer of professional mediation between the city and mayor in a press conference Friday afternoon. Silva and City Manager Bob Deis were not invited to Friday's announcement. Nance said she has yet to make either of them a formal offer.

Contacted about the offer by The Record, Silva said he is interested in collaboration. City spokeswoman Connie Cochran said the city is focused on bankruptcy and following through on the Marshall Plan to target high-level criminals.

Nance said the city has asked rival gangs to get along through Operation Ceasefire, so citizens should be able to expect city leaders to also work together. With what is viewed by many as an understaffed police force, the union head said she wants to find a way to hire more officers while protecting the city as it navigates the bankruptcy process.

"Our goals are simple: rebuild our city to provide services and amenities that the citizens of Stockton deserve, and provide a safer environment for all of our citizens," Nance said, reading from a prepared statement.

Silva introduced his Stockton Safe Streets Tax Initiative in late March to raise $18 million a year through a half-cent sales tax increase, and hire 100 new officers.

Deis has said Silva's tax plan would further hinder the city's finances and cause complications in bankruptcy proceedings. He also said an analysis of the initial plan would strip City Hall of control in managing police services. The City Council voted down Silva's plan earlier this month.

"I've been at City Council meetings and I see the fighting," Nance said. "We want everybody to work together to reach an agreement with compromise."

The union admitted that Silva's plan, which was recently amended to give the police chief and City Hall more authority if approved, has flaws. However, the need for more officers needs to be expedited, Nance said.

The SPOA endorsed Silva's campaign for mayor, a race that centered heavily on the city's high crime and homicide rates. Silva said on Friday that he wants to work with the city to come up with a tax plan. He doesn't think the process needs a professional mediator.

"I'm most definitely willing to work with them," Silva said. "I don't want it to cost anybody money. Working together is a good idea, I don't think we have to go so far as to spend money."

Deis could not be reached Friday. Cochran suggested the city isn't interested in a tax plan.

"The challenges that the city faces are not about the mayor and city manager," Cochran said in an email. "Our collective goal is to get out of bankruptcy and recover. The City Manager works for the Council, and the Council has a plan to exit bankruptcy and restore public safety - the Marshall Plan."